The Tulane women’s bowling team has thrown the last strike of its season, ranking 19 in the country, after losing to Sam Houston State University and Stephen F. Austin State University in the Southland Bowling League Championship.

Tulane finished sixth overall in the Southland Bowling League Championship tournament, at the Star Lanes in Kenner. Arkansas State University won the tournament, as well as the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship. A total of three teams other than Arkansas State earned championship positions from the Southland League, including Vanderbilt, but Tulane did not make the eight-team bracket this season.

The makeup of the NCAA Bowling Championship is a rarity in college sports. It is one of the only championships in which teams from Divisions I, II and III all compete against each other and all have an equal chance to make it on the bracket. Since the first collegiate bowling championship in 2004, an official committee decides the eight teams to compete for the championship via at-large selections.

Tulane’s program is a young one, having just finished its fifth season. The Green Wave finished under .500 with a complete record of 53-58, but with a 28-21 team match record. The Wave was good enough to be ranked 19 in the nation and improved last season’s 22-23 team match record. The Green Wave women’s bowling team will certainly look to continue their improvement into next season as the program develops.

Sophomore Michelle Ng, the star of the team, led every statistical category for the Green Wave. In 54 total games, Ng managed 10,875 pins with a 201.39 pin average, as well as a season high of 275 pins.

“Overall, I am pleased with the team’s performance at the Southland Bowling League Championship,” head coach Hayley Veitch said. “I am happy with our overall progress. I love the fight that the ladies showed the past couple of days; they never gave up throughout the matches we bowled.”

The 2015-16 season has ended short of a national championship run, though the Tulane women’s bowling team is poised to grow into a contender.